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Public Speaking
Planning & writing a speech
Preparing a speech is as important as delivering it or rather it is much more important in the sense that a well prepared speech is a half done and a successful speech.
There are tree main steps in every speech project: planning, writing, and delivering.
Step 1 / Planning a Speech
In order to make your speech easier you need to make it clear first for yourself. You need solid foundations and you have to use your knowledge of:
A/ the occasion: the type of occasion wherein you will be presenting. This will determine the duration of your presentation, its content, the tone, the expectations of the audience…..
“BE MINDFUL OF THE OCCASION AND YOUR ROLE IN IT”
B/ The audience: Decide who you are targeting.
You may need to encourage your listeners by some of their personal information in order to show familiarity. (E.g. by mentioning their names…) But if you are unfamiliar to your audience you will need to “building a degree of trust with the listeners” as your early goal.
“YOU MUST KNOW WHO YOUR AUDIENCE ARE IN ORDER TO BEST DECIDE HOW TO AFFECT YOUR MESSAGE UPON THEM”
C/ The purpose of your speech: Before you start writing you have to set out few clear goals. What shall I reach at the end of this speech?
“BY SETTING UP GOALS, YOU WILL BE BETTER POSITIONED TO JUDGE THE LIKELY SUCCESS OF YOUR SPEECH”
Step 2 / Writing a Speech
Writing your speech is the first practical step in making it.
The fundamentals of successful speech writing reside in how to correctly structure it.
The structure of a speech does not vary much on any other type of writing: it should comprise tree parts as well.
A/ Beginning: Strong Opening
The first 30 seconds are the most important.
You have to grap the audience attention to what you want to say
This can be achieved in various ways: raise a thought-provoking question, make interesting or controversial statement, recite a relevant quotation, tell a joke….
“ONCE YOU HAVE WON THE ATTENTION OF YOUR AUDIENCE YOUR SPEECH SHOULD MOVE SIMULTANEOUSLY/ SMOOTHLY TO THE CORE OF YOUR SPEECH”
B/ THE MIDDLE: Purposeful Body
It is the largest part of the speech; thus the most influential one.
Formulate a series of points that you want to raise in your speech.
Organize your points.
Points should follow each other so that each one builds up on the previous and leads to the next.
This organization will give your speech a more logical progression and makes the job of the listener a far easier one.
“DON’T OVERWHELM YOUR AUDIENCE WITH COUNTLESS POINTS”
C/ The Closing: Memorable conclusion
Like the opening, it should contain some of your strongest material
You should view the closing of your speech as an opportunity to:
Summarize the main points of your speech
Leave the audience with positive memories of your speech
Close with thanks and admiration
“MAKE SURE YOUR AUDIENCE WILL BE AFFECTED BY WHAT YOU WILL SAY”
Step 3 / Delivering a Speech
Now that your speech is well prepared, it is written in a precise and correct language, it is time to present it. It is time to speak naturally in front of the audience.
The way in which you will deliver your speech depends on many factors (your experience, personality…)
A/ Reading from Script:
Write the whole speech and try to read it in front of the audience.
This would give you confidence and ensures you that you forgot nothing
Less stressful
It is the least desirable option of speech giving: difficulty of looking at the audience. It is hard for the audience to get involved in the speech atmosphere, it is a mere reading aloud not speech giving
B/ Using Notes:
Read from the notes you think are helpful to remind you of the main points of the speech.
Make the general headlines of your speech clear to look at when necessary
This also would give you confidence and ensures you that you will forget nothing and it is less stressful
Very useful to people who have a problem with concentration
Be careful not to lapse into monotonous recitations of your speech
C/ Reciting from Memory:
Talk your memory and let yourself talk on the basis of what you have in mind about your speech.
Try to retrieve and recall information that you already prepared
Do so only if you are comfortable speaking publicly
Don’t learn by heart and fall into recitation
Good Luck
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